Stovner started his research on headache under his predecessor professor Ottar Sjaastad. Based on Sjaastad’s reputation as researcher and headache doctor, and aided by the patient organization, Stovner managed to establish the Norwegian Advisory Unit on headaches in Trondheim, and he has been the leader of the centre since its establishment.

His group has performed several studies on the treatment of migraine, cluster headache and cervicogenic headache, both medicines and surgical approaches. In particular, the group has developed an AII blocker, candesartan, and lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor, as useful migraine prophylactics.

Epidemiologic studies on post-traumatic headaches (after concussion and whiplash), conducted in collaboration with colleagues in Lithuania, have engendered much discussion and controversy. Based on this research Stovner served as expert witness for the Supreme Court in two whiplash cases. The court’s ruling was in accordance with Stovner’s understanding of the condition, and this will influence decisions in similar cases in the future.

In his group there is also extensive research with neurophysiological methods to elucidate what happens in the brain before, during, and after headache attacks, in order to better understand the underlying mechanisms. The group has also established a biobank of blood samples from headache patients and controls, used for genetic studies.